Surname Folds - Meaning and Origin

Folds: What does the surname Folds mean?

The last name Folds is of English origin. It is derived from a descriptive nickname for someone who was very thin or meagre, given the Middle English word ‘folde’, meaning ‘skinny’ or ‘meagre’. This type of nickname was very common in the Middle Ages and the same word can also be found in Old English as ‘folod’ and in Old Norse as ‘folla’. The Folds surname is derived from such a descriptive nickname, and it is likely that it was held by one or more people before the surname was established.

Folds could also have been converted from an Anglo-Saxon name, which was composed of an element denoting some characteristic of the original bearer. In this case, the name would have derived from the Old English personal name ‘Fold’, a shortened form of the name Edward, which means ‘wealthy’.

The surnames Folds and Fold are widely distributed across England, with the largest concentrations of them found in the counties of Lancashire and Warwickshire. The coat of arms associated with the Folds family is a checkered shield with silver and purple tinctures and a black chevron. Supporters for the shield are a greyhound and a peacock. The crest features a dove perched on a roundel surrounded by gold and red rays.

Overall, the surname Folds is a descriptive nickname which was derived from the Middle English word for ‘skinny’ or ‘meagre’, although it is also possible that the name may have originated from an element in an Anglo-Saxon personal name. The Folds surname is widely distributed across England and is associated with a distinctive coat of arms.

Folds: Where does the name Folds come from?

The last name Folds is most commonly found in the United States today. It is most prevalent in Midwestern and Southern states, particularly in the Appalachian region. The highest concentrations of Folds are currently found in West Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky.

The origin of the Folds surname is German. Records of the name first appear in the Palatinate region of Germany in the early 1700s. During that time, the family were known as “Völkers”. It wasn't until the 19th century, when the family immigrated to the United States, that “Völkers” became “Folds”.

During the 1800s and 1900s, the Folds family can be found settling in the Midwest and Appalachian regions of the United States. By the turn of the 20th century, the Folds family was a large and well-established part of those communities.

Today, approximately four thousand people in the United States bear the surname Folds. While it is most common is the Southern and Midwest states, people with the Folds surname are also found in New York, Pennsylvania, and California as well. With the Many of the Folds family still living in the community their ancestors settled, their traditions and heritage are still enjoyed today.

Variations of the surname Folds

The surname Folds is an English habitational name derived from the Old English name Folds meaning "forest". Variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin may include Fold, Foald, Foild, Foley, Folley, Follis, Follys, and Foyles.

The surnames Fold, Folds, Foald, and Foild are the most common spelling variations of the word and may be found in records from the 16th Century onward. The surname may be derived from any of the various places bearing the Old English name Folds, such as Foulds in Lancashire, Foulston in Derbyshire, and Foulds in Yorkshire. The Folds surname is also sometimes found as a variant of the German name Folz.

The variations Foley, Folley, Follis, Follys, and Foyles are derivatives of the surnames Foley, Fullolle, Folly, and Follis. The surname Foley is an old Irish name derived from the Gaelic name Ó Foghlú, meaning "the descendant of Foghlú". 'Foghlú' is a Gaelic personal name translated to mean "wolf".

The surnames Fullolle, Folly, and Follis are Norman forms of the name derived from the Old French personal name Folo. 'Folo' is a Germanic name composed of elements meaning ‘people’ and ‘famous’. The Anglo-Norman Follys and French Foyles are variants of the modern surnames Foley and Foy.

In conclusion, the surnames Folds, Fold, Foald, Foild, Foley, Folley, Follis, Follys, and Foyles are all variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.

Famous people with the name Folds

• Ben Folds: singer, songwriter, and record producer.
• Emmitt Folds: former University of South Carolina quarterback and Seattle Seahawks' wide receiver (1987-1990).
• Jerry Folds: former Major League Baseball pitcher (1968-1976).
• Bryan Folds: country music singer and songwriter.
• Amelia Folds: singer and actress.
• John Folds Sr.: former professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA) (1978-1983).
• Kaite Folds: contemporary artist.
• Robert Folds: television and film actor.
• Nick Folds: artist, sculptor, and furniture maker.
• Nikki Folds: singer and songwriter.

Other surnames

Foldes